Are Pro Sports Fixed?

[Dave...]

The older I get, the more undeniable it becomes. What do you think?

 

[Scott]

One of my friends is convinced of it too. I think there are times where its obvious something is up, then other times I don't think so. But then again we all know money talks.

 

[Dave...]

Especially the Superbowl. Someone would have a very difficult time explaining to me how that last game wasn't fixed.

In the NBA, the fact that the ref's don't call a foul until after they see if the shot goes in is very revealing. At the very least, I think that the ref's control the game to keep it close and then hope for dramatic finishes.

In baseball, it's the strike zone.

Sometimes when i'm watching pro sports, I feel like i'm watching the WWE, or what ever it's called these days.

 

[KnarfKS]

In the NBA, the fact that the ref's don't call a foul until after they see if the shot goes in is very revealing.

If you saw the last Clippers vs phoenix game you would definately agree with that. I like phoenix and steve nash and all, but you have to be kidding me. A bogus offensive foul on one end with nash moving, then next trip to the other end the LA guy is clearly set, then it is a blocking foul, then another shooting foul with noone within a foot of touching the man... :-?

 

[Scott]

Especially the Superbowl. Someone would have a very difficult time explaining to me how that last game wasn't fixed.

Funny how it seemed the Colts had every opportunity possible to get back in that Divisional Playoff game vs. the Steelers too. Even though I don't like the Steelers I thought they were getting hosed in that game and then I admit they got a lot of breaks in the SB. I thought the Patriots got some bad calls too against the Broncos in their Divisional Playoff game. I'm surprised none of the refs have been fired... I thought officiating in the Playoffs overall, was horrible.

 

[Dave...]

If you saw the last Clippers vs phoenix game you would definately agree with that. I like phoenix and steve nash and all, but you have to be kidding me. A bogus offensive foul on one end with nash moving, then next trip to the other end the LA guy is clearly set, then it is a

I've been watching that series, and the one before that between the Suns and the Lakers. I watched the Spurs and Mavs game last night after my team, the Cavs lost, and I knew, with two minutes left in a tie game that the Spurs were going to win. The Spurs were getting every call and the Mav's weren't getting any. I swear that the two guards from the Spurs are so confident that they will get a call every time to the basket that half the time they just throw the ball at the backboard knowing the whistle is coming. I've never seen a team get so many ticky tack calls in post season play as the Spurs. And when they don't get it, they whine every time. I understand complaining when you get hacked, but I hate floppers who do nothing but whine all the time, that's why I have no respect for the Spurs at all.

In basketball, you don't need to fix every call. If the refs take the aggressiveness away from a team the players will lose the game all by themselves. And if there is a big enough cushion, the refs can even make up the calls and foul shots at the end of the game so the numbers look even.

It's the same for baseball. If the Ump calls a strike that is eight inches off of the outside of the plate with the first pitch (Maddux :-D ), then the hitter must swing at those pitches every time. This makes the pitcher much more effective.

I'm convinced that the NBA fixes games to keep them close until the end. I'm also convinced that they fix games to make each series play as long as possible.

I'm surprised none of the refs have been fired... I thought officiating in the Playoffs overall, was horrible.

When a QB gets called for making an illegal block while trying to tackle a player who intercepted his pass, that Ref should be fired. The sad part is that the refs could have picked up that flag, which is even more revealing.

 

[sparksfly]

my Dad and Mom think so. I've watched enough football to wonder!

 

[English]

For most people Pro Sports is simply entertainment. The most obvious sport where the outcome seems obviously pre-determined is probably pro wrestling where there is a large degree of showmanship and staging. It would not shock and horrify me to learn that other sports are managed in the same way. Look at some of the moves they do in wrestling. They rehearse just like actors rehearse otherwise they would risk severe injury.

A wrestler might have an accident and really get hurt. The crowd might go wild but to them it is not really connected to reality, it's entertainment.

I think that even if a game like football or baseball was fixed or they tried to fix it, there is still a degree of randomness in the game because you can't expect things to go to plan all of the time.

There might be some people somewhere who have worked to determine the outcome of the game and will do their utmost to make sure it works out that way but it only really matters to the gamblers at the end of the day.

Generally speaking if a team is set up to lose then it is looked down upon as deliberate match fixing and against the rules but there are always those who would see the rules as being a little elastic.

As far as the audience is concerned, well you will simply never be able to tell. Some sports clearly don't have a pre-determined outcome but others are a little more suspect.. I think it's all part of the entertainment value.

So I would only say, take it for what it is and don't be suckered into taking it too seriously. Entertainment is entertainment. The scriptwriter knows the outcome but the audience has the story unfold a little at a time. The connection to reality and real life is a tenuous one.

Strange as it sounds in the cold light of day, there are always those who might have a vested interest in getting you hooked in one way or another. It all becomes a bit pointless to me when the fun is taken out of it. I'd rather play in and enjoy a sport rather than be a spectator all the time anyway.